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Georgia pine-pellet plant fined for air emissions

A factory that belongs to a Savannah-based company that produces what is supposed to be environmentally friendly fuel for electricity generation is emitting more air pollution than its state permit allows.

Tuesday, a senior executive said the situation would be remedied by the end of the year.

The company, Georgia Biomass LLC., paid a $100,000 fine last month for excess emissions of volatile organic compounds at its operation in Waycross, the world’s largest facility for turning pine timber into pellets that are exported to fuel European power plants.

Environmental rules in Europe have prompted many utilities to switch from burning coal to wood pellets in recent years.

The 18-month-old Waycross plant uses new technology to dry out and pelletize the wood, and once it was running, company officials discovered the emissions from an unexpected part of the process. They reported the finding to Georgia Environmental Protection Division.

“What happened was that once they started up the process, they found that the volatile organic compounds were higher than they expected. They came to us and told us about it,” said Karen Hayes, compliance manager with EPD’s Air Branch.

She described the company as cooperative.

“I don’t anticipate any problems,” she said.

Georgia Biomass’ chief executive officer, Jim Roecker, said internal tests show there is no health concern for employees or residents near the plant.

“The total volume of emissions, that’s something that I would not like to comment on,” he said. “That’s something between us and the state.”

The company has agreed to a fine, to apply for an additional permit and to have equipment in place by January to capture the emissions. EPD agreed to let it continue to operate in the meantime.

The agency has used a similar approach with other companies, including King America Finishing whose Screven plant agreed to a $1 million consent order after the state’s largest fish kill led to discovery that the plant was discharging chemicals into the Ogeechee River beyond those in its permit.

King America has also applied for a new permit and continues to operate while the application is pending.

Friday is the final day for public comments on Georgia Biomass’ upgraded air quality permit.